Department: Institute of Pharmacology
Head: Steinkellner, Thomas, Ass.-Prof. Mag., PhD
Research Area
Molecular Pharmacology
Description
Research topics
Our primary research goal is to investigate the cellular determinants that influence selective vulnerability or resistance in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. My lab aims to determine factors that make specific neuronal populations either more vulnerable or more resistant to neurodegeneration in order to identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention of these hitherto incurable diseases.
Secondly, my lab is interested in how psychostimulants such as amphetamines modulate synaptic transmission and hijack neural circuits that lead to drug addiction and dependence.
Lastly, my lab is interested in developing novel molecular tools for neuroscience research using genetic techniques that can be used to better visualize perturbations during ongoing neurodegeneration or after substance abuse.
Selected publications
- Steinkellner, T. et al., 2018. Role for VGLUT2 in selective vulnerability of midbrain dopamine neurons. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 128(2), pp.774–788. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1172/JCI95795.
- Steinkellner, T. et al. (2022) Dopamine neurons exhibit emergent glutamatergic identity in Parkinson’s disease, Brain, 145(3), pp. 879–886. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/brain/awab373.
- Zell, V., Steinkellner, T. et al., 2020. VTA Glutamate Neuron Activity Drives Positive Reinforcement Absent Dopamine Co-release. Neuron, 107(5), pp.864–873.e4. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2020.06.011.
- Khom, S., Steinkellner, T. et al., 2020. Alcohol dependence potentiates substance P/neurokinin-1 receptor signaling in the rat central nucleus of amygdala. Science Advances, 6(12), p.eaaz1050. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aaz1050.
- Steinkellner, T. et al., 2015. Amphetamine Action at the Cocaine- and Antidepressant-Sensitive Serotonin Transporter Is Modulated by CaMKII. Journal of Neuroscience, 35(21), pp.8258–8271. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4034-14.2015.